Traditional Innu Medicine As we walked into the room, in Institut Tshakapesh, an elderly woman greeted us. She seemed reserved, but it was clear that she knew something we didn’t. As it turns out, she knew a lot of things we didn’t - she was an Innu healer of sorts. After summarizing their medicinal philosophy centred around natural healing substances and herbs, she allowed us a taste of some bitter sap that I won’t soon forget. The herbal compounds that are employed in their practice have been relied on for centuries to cure whatever ailed them. Anecdotal evidence was provided: a case was described involving a boy who suffered from severe eczema and depression. He could not leave his house without putting on a hood to hide himself from scrutiny. After spending a week at the healer’s house, being bathed and fed with various natural herbs, the boy returned home anew. Keep in mind the healer has nothing to gain - she does it for the sake of preserving a fellow life. In fact, she does not believe she does anything at all. She claims to simply know the properties of the herbs, it is God that heals. Although many cultures around the world have their own versions of herbal medicine which can be found in books, the medicinal knowledge of the Innu remains exclusively within their community. Why? Because oral tradition is their primary method of communication which assures that this vital information stays within their community - and doesn’t get into the wrong hands.